Erica’s [POV]
I nod and rise on shaky legs, forcing some steel into my backbone as I walk to join him. When I do, he halts me at the door with his fingers on my chin, tipping it up so I’m forced to look at him.
“No games tonight, Mercedes.”
He doesn’t state it like a threat, but I know it is. I can see he’s not in the mood, and quite frankly, neither am I. When ites to Sna and Georgie, I’m not about to do anything stupid to put them at risk. He would understand that if he truly knew anything about me.
“No games,” I sigh my agreement.
He nods, releasing my face only to press his hand to my lower back and guide me out into the hall. We walk together in silence, both of us seemingly lost in our own thoughts. A nervous flutter stirs in my belly as we near the sitting room, and I’m praying for the strength to hold it together when I see my friends. I’m excited and anxious, though you couldn’t tell from my stone-cold exterior.
When we turn the corner and Judge guides me inside the room, Sna and Georgie both jump up from the sofa to greet me with equal gasps of shock and relief.
“Oh, my God.” Sna wails as she closes the distance between us, dragging me into her arms as she begins to sob. “I thought you were dead, Mercedes!”
I don’t have a moment to speak before Georgie wraps his arms around me too, and I’m engulfed by the two of them. Despite my best efforts, their tears spur my own, and I find myself choking on breaths of air before Judge seems to sense my despair and clears his throat behind us.
“Shall we sit down?”
They both release me reluctantly, Sna holding me at arm’s length as her eyes move over me. I don’t miss the challenge Georgie shoots Judge with his gaze as he strokes my arm and squeezes my hand in his.
“Are you okay, love?” he asks.
“Where have you been?” Sna demands. “We’ve been worried sick.”
My eyes move over them, Sna in her long, witchy ck dress with silver bangles adorning her arms. She’s as beautiful as ever. Even as she res at Judge with her bright green eyes like she’s taking a mental picture for the voodoo doll she’ll make in his likeness. And then there’s Georgie,e to rescue me in his finest suit, a navy-blue affair with a patterned pocket square. They have such a calming, protective presence it makes me feel like myself again, even if it is only for just a moment. God, I have missed them so much.
“Mercedes?” Sna gives me a gentle squeeze, and I realize I still haven’t spoken.
I open my lips, but nothinges out. That’s when Judge takes it upon himself to intervene, branding his hand around my waist possessively before he pulls me back against him. It’s unexpected, and when I turn to look up at him, his eyes re as he brushes his fingers over my jaw in an obvious disy of ownership.
I don’t have to guess who it’s for. There’s a palpable tension between my friends and him, but most notably, the biggest threat he perceives is Georgie. It’s such a ridiculous notion I almost want tough, but I decide to let him make a fool of himself instead by pissing imaginary circles around me.
“Ie bearing drinks.” Lois interrupts the moment, dissolving some of the tension as she hands out a winess to each of us, with the exception of Judge, who doesn’t take anything.
I find it rather odd but shove my curiosity aside as we all take our seats. Georgie and Sna return to the sofa, and Judge keeps me close to his side on the chaise opposite them.
“So?” Georgie arches a brow at me. “Are we going to get any exnation?”
I don’t miss the way his eyes dart to Judge’s hand around my back in question. That question feels like a what the hell are you doing, Mercedes?
“I’m so sorry I haven’t been in contact,” I begin, trying to gather my thoughts as I speak.
I didn’t really have a n for how I was going to exin my absence, but I don’t think it matters. There’s nothing I can really say to justify it. All I can hope is that I convince them I’m okay, and they don’t need to worry about me. This is how things are handled in IVI. Society business stays in The Society.
“Tell us what’s going on,” Sna pleads.
“I-” My voice fractures slightly before Judge’s fingers press into me.
“Mercedes was involved in an incident,” Judge supplies for me. “For her protection, she needed toe stay with me, and she’s been under my care. It’s for her own safety.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Georgie narrows his gaze at him.
“We want a word with Mercedes in private,” Sna demands.
I look at Judge in a silent plea. He knows they aren’t going to take his word, and I need him to trust that I can handle this. He’s only making things worse right now by trying to manage the situation for me.
His arm stiffens around me as he realizes what I want, but reluctantly, he nods and rises to his feet.
“I’ll go check on dinner,” he grunts before shooting Georgie a warning look. And then, to top things off, he leans down and brushes his lips against my forehead in a gentle kiss.
It shocks me so much I can’t seem to speak when he releases me. I’m still staring after him in confusion when he leaves the room, and it’s only the sound of Sna’s voice that brings me back to the present.
“Mercedes, what the hell is going on?” Shees to my side, Georgie squeezing in on the other. “Who is that guy?”
“He’s my… guardian,” I try to exin.
Both of them frown. I don’t know how to navigate this situation. I’ve never needed to describe something like this to an outsider. Everyone in The Society understands the rules, but the rest of the world doesn’t. It isn’t something they can wrap their heads around. It will take a delicate bnce of giving them enough information to satiate their concerns but not too much to endanger them.
“You’re twenty-five years old,” Georgie says. “Why would you need a guardian?”
“It’s…plicated,” I grumble. “But this is how things work in my world. I know it’s hard to understand but please try. It’s Judge’s job to protect me. He wasn’t lying about that.”
“Protect you from what?” Sna asks.
I dip my gaze to the floor, recalling the reason I ended up here in the first ce. “From myself, mostly.”
They nce at each other, and Georgie’s hand squeezes mine. “Are you in danger?”
“Do you want to be here?” Sna adds.
“I’m not in danger,” I assure them, though nothing has ever felt like more of a lie. “And… I’m safe here.”
They aren’t fooled by my vague assertions, and it shows.
“I just don’t understand this,” Georgie growls. “Something isn’t right. We want you toe back with us. Please, Mercedes.”
“I can’t do that.” I offer him a shaky smile. “I’m sorry, but-”
“Are you in the mafia?” Sna whispers, her eyes wide. “Is that it?”
I can’t help butugh at her observation, but she doesn’t share my amusement.
“What else am I supposed to think?” she hisses quietly. “You’re so guarded about your life. Your family. We realized after you disappeared how little we actually know about you. Then this guy shows up at Georgie’s shop, throwing around his wealth, and gives us this address with a mysterious invitation. And this ce… it’s like a fucking fortress. None of it adds up.”Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.
My eyes drift to the vases of roses around the room, and a strange warmth creeps over my chest. I know there are more important things to focus on, but I can’t understand why Judge would buy all of those.
“Does this have something to do with that weird tattoo on the back of your neck?” Georgie asks.
I stiffen at the mention of it, and they don’t miss it.
“It means something,” Sna agrees. “But you’ve never exined it.”
“Look.” I squeeze each of their hands in mine. “I am so sorry I made you worry about me. I truly didn’t mean to, and I feel terrible about that. If I could have contacted you, I would have. I’ve missed you both every single day, and it means so much to me to know that you care. But I can assure you I’m safe, and I’m not in the mafia.”
“Semantics.” Georgie rolls his eyes. “Whatever it is they call themselves these days. It’s the only thing that makes sense. Don’t insult us by lying to us.”
“I’m not trying to insult you,” I whisper. “I’m trying to protect you.”
They both frown, and I know that was the wrong thing to say. I work quickly to try to correct it.
“There’s a lot in my life you don’t know about, and I can’t exin. I wish I could, but it’s not safe for you to know these things. What I can promise you is that I’m okay here, and I just need to stay under Judge’s protection until things blow over.”
“When will that be?” Sna asks, the evidence of her hurt clearly written on her face.
I hate that I’m doing this to them. I hate that I can’t be honest with them about The Society, but it really is for their own safety. I don’t trust that Judge isn’t going to punish them if I make one wrong move.
“I don’t know just yet,” I admit. “But I swear to you, the moment I do, you’ll be the first to hear from me.”
“No.” Georgie shakes his head. “We need a line ofmunication with you. We aren’t leaving here until we have that.”
“We’re not waiting in the dark,” Sna agrees.
I swallow painfully, trying to figure out how I’m going to tell them that’s not possible, when Judge interrupts from behind us.
“She has a new phone,” he tells them. “You can text or call her on that number. I’ll give it to you before you leave.”
I nce back at him, my eyes searching his, but I can’t make out the motivation behind his concession. It feels too good to be true, but there is no sign of deception on his face.
“I don’t understand why she hasn’t had it this whole time,” Sna mutters. “But whatever. If you miss even one of my calls or texts, I’ming to check on you. Let that be clear.”
Judge looks less than pleased with her threat, but he simply jerks his chin in agreement before gesturing to the dining room.
“Dinner is ready.”